Louise Giovanelli: A Song of Ascents

‘A painting should be the beginning of something. The best paintings are those that endure in your mind – because there’s this sense of mystery to them.’ Louise Giovanelli

Louise Giovanelli is a Manchester-based artist who is known for her large-scale paintings that capture short-lived and sensual moments using beautifully crafted textures and vivid colour. Giovanelli will be creating a new body of work for this solo exhibition at The Hepworth Wakefield.

Her subject matter is primarily chosen for its formal qualities and includes staged photographs, film stills, classical sculpture and architectural elements. Regular motifs in her works are fabrics and locks of hair that are notoriously hard to capture in oil paint. The results are captivating, luminescent paintings that refer to both popular culture and Renaissance paintings.

Louise Giovanelli: A Song of Ascents is organised in collaboration with HALLE FÜR KUNST Steiermark, Austria.

Louise Giovanelli (b.1993, London) lives and works in Manchester, UK. She studied at Städelschule, Frankfurt (2018–20) under the tutelage of Amy Sillman, having received her BA from the Manchester School of Art, UK, in 2015.

Solo exhibitions of her work have been held at Moon Grove, Manchester, UK (2023); Manchester Art Gallery, UK (2019); and The Grundy Gallery, Blackpool, UK (2016). Giovanelli’s work has been featured in group exhibitions that include; FLAG Art Foundation, New York (2023); Hayward Gallery, London (2021); AkzoNobel Art Foundation, Amsterdam (2021); and The Art House, Worcester, UK (2019).

‘Her paintings contain visual throwbacks to the gilding and draperies of Renaissance paintings, yet also represent stars from films and pop culture.’ The New York Times

‘Louise Giovanelli’s paintings are concerned with stillness and anticipation – with what is, isn’t and might soon be seen.’ Frieze

Major Supporters:

Ryan Taylor Collection

Exhibition Circle:

Ken Li, & those who wish to remain anonymous